Control apparatus



` c. c. wHnTAKE.

comm APPARATUS.

APPLICATION` FILED NOV. I8. 1916.'

Patented May13,1919.

2 suEETs-snsn 1.

WITNssEs z A'TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

CHARLES c. WHITTAKRR, on WILKINSRURG, RRNNsYLvANIA, AssIeNoR ro wasm- INeHoUsR RLRcrRIc` AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA;

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application led November 18, 1916. Serial N o. 132,084.

T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. `WIIIT- TAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Psnnsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. H v

My invention relates to control apparatus and especially to controllers of the drum t pe.

yIn some instances, particularly where acceleration and regeneration of one or more motors is controlled from a single control drum, or the equivalent, by the usual method of providing sets of positions on the opposite sides of a normal or off position, from an operating standpoint it is desirable that free movement of the control drum or operating handle backward or forward through either set of positions at the will of the train-operator may be allowed, but before the control drum is thrown from one set of positions to the other, or7 in the case under consideration, before regenerative operation or acceleration is begun after the opposite condition has been in force, it is very des1rable that some check upon the trainoperators action, such as an additional move ment of the operating handle, should berequired, thereby introducing a certain time element in this portion of the controller operation and serving to automatically prevent undesirable operation by negligence or thoughtlessness.

It is the object of my present invention to provide means which shall be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and effective and reliable in operation for automatically accomplishing the above-men tioned preventive function, particularly with respect to drum controllers.

More specifically stated, it is the objectof my invention to provide an operating handle of any convenient type for effecting the customary free forward or backward movements of the control drum, and a relatively compact locking means having two parts, one of which is mounted uponthe controller frame and the other of which is located preferably within the operating handle to be actuated by means of a push-button or the like, whereby an additional movement on the part of the train-operator is required when actuating the controller from either of its sets of positions to the other set.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

upper end of whicha suitable top or cover p member 2 is integrally or otherwise secured, and a curved front-cover member la of the customary type is provided to house one or more control drums 3 of any convenient form for controlling preferably the auxiliary governing circuits (not shown) of a motor-control system.

The control drum 3 is provided with a shaft Ll that extends upwardly through the top cover member 2 and is mechanically connected, in a manner to be more fully described, with a handle member or lever 5 with which is associated a, notchingplate 6, in accordance with a familiar practice.

A locking device '7 is mounted upon the top cover member 2 to engage certain mechanism of the operating handle 5 and effect the previously described preventive function, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The back or base member 1 is shown as provided with a plurality vof conduits 8 through which the necessary leads'for the circuit connections within the controller extend, as willbe understood.

In addition to the hollow lboss through which the shaft 4c for the control drum 3 projects, the top cover member 2 also provided with a second `hollowboss `9 for the purpose of supporting the operating handle 5, as about to be described.

It will be appreciated that the number and relation of control drums within the body of the illustrated controller are immaterial to my present invention and, consequently, no further illustrationor description thereof is believed to be necessary. The essential parts of the control `drum are indicated by the dotted line 3, which represents the rotatable drum member, and a plurality of control fingers 10 which are mounted upon suitable finger-[bases or blocks 11, as is customary.

An arm 12 is rigidly clamped by means of a bolt 13, or otherwise, around the outer end of the drum shaft 4 and its free end terminates in an upwardly-projecting lug or guide-block 14 that is adapted to slide Within a longitudinal slot 15 in the main frame member 16 of the operating handle 5, which is pivotally mounted upon a short shaft 17 that is fixed within the hollow boss 9 of the top cover member 2.

However, if desired, the operating handle 5 may be directly detachably secured to .the drum shaft'4, as will be understood.

The operating handle 5 is provided near its outer end with a side projection or ear 18 upon which is pivotally mounted an L- shaped lever 19 to which a longitudinally movable bar 0r rod 20 is pivotally secured vby means of a suitable bolt 21. To the outer end ofthe bar 2 0 a similar bar or rod 22 is secured through the agency of a pivotal pin 23, and the outer end of the bar 22 is slightly tapered to effect engagement with a plurality of recesses or notches 24 in the periphery of the notching-plate 6, such notches vcorresponding to certain positions of the control drum 3 such as off, full series, etc., as will be understood. A suitable guiding block or lug 25 for the longitudinally movable bar 22 projects from the upper side of the main frame member 16 of the operating handle 5.

Although no position-accentuating mechanism, such as the familiar pawl and starwheel arrangement, is here shown, it will be understood that such a device may be employed, if desired, for the usual purpose of aiding inthe actuation of the control drum to its various exact operative positions.

For the purpose of biasing the guide bar 22 to engagement with the peripheral notches 24 in the notching-plate 6, a suitable helical spring 26 is mechanically connected between a pin 27, which is offset a suitable amount from the pivotal point of the L- shaped lever 19, and a projection or lug 28 that extends from the lower side of the main frame member 16 of the operating handle 5.

The notching-plate 6 is positioned an appropriate distance above the top cover member 2 of `the control drum by means of a. suitable number of posts or standards 29 and bolts 30, whereby proper engagement of the longitudinally movable bar 22 and the notching-plate 6 is effected.

A push-button 31 projects from the outer end of the main frame member 16 of the operating handle 5 and is rigidly secured to a small rod 32 that extends longitudinally through the frame member 16 for approximately one-half of its length, terminating in a slide or guide-member 34, the lower side of which is shaped to form two side teeth 35 and 36 and an intermediate notch or groove 37, for the purposes to be described.

The locking device 7 is located in general alinement with the guide-member 34 and embodies a base-plate 38 that is mounted upon the top cover member 2 by means of suitable screws 39, or otherwise. A vertical spacing or partition member 40 extends along the middle of the base-plate 38 throughout its length, and a plurality of shorter spacing or partition members 40a are vertically located near diagonally opposite corners of the base-plate. Preferably, the members 38, 40 and 40a are integrally related, although such relation is not, Of course, essential.

A pair of latch members 41 and 42 of substantially trapezoidal shape are pivotally mounted between the intermediate partition member 40 and the respective smaller partition members 40@l by means of suitable pins 43 and 44. The latch members 41 and 42 are adapted, through the action of suitably located helical springs 45 and 46, respectively, to normally present projecting surfaces 47 and 48 that are inclined upwardly from the respective ends of the intermediate partition member 40 toward Vthe center of the locking device 7. The latch members 41 and 42 are also respectively provided with substantially vertically extending inner-end surfaces 49 and 50, for a purpose to be described.

Assuming that the various parts occupy the illustrated positions 4and that it is desired to actuate the controller handle 5 from the position shown, whichhfor example, may correspond te full accelerating operation, the handle may be returned toward its off position, which corresponds to the intermediate notch 24 that is located opposite the central portion of the locking device 7 and movement of the operating handle either backwardly or forwardly through the various positions that are located between the off position and the illustrated fully operative position is substantially unrestricted, except, of course, for the customary operation of the notching lever 19 with respect to the notch-plate 6, or the positionaccentuating action of a pawl and star-wheel device, if such is employed. Practically speaking, however, such backward or forward movement may be termed free, since such operation is not normally completely prevented by any locking device.

However, when movement of the operating handle beyond the central off position toward the other set of operative positions, which, for example, may correspond to regenerative control of one or more motors is desired, the tooth 35 of the guide-member 34 of the operating handle engages the ver-` tical face 50 of the latch member 42, and, consequently, further movement of the operating handle in the corresponding direction is prevented. The other latch member 41 is inoperative to prevent movement of the operating handle 5 `from the illustrated position to the off position, since the other `tooth 36 of the guide-member 34 merely slides over the inclined surface 47 of the resiliently-supported latch member 41 to the olf position.

To effect movement of the operating handle and the control drum to the other set of positio-ns that lie beyond the oft' position, an additional movement by the train operator is necessary; namely, an inward thrust of the push-button 31, whereby the tooth 35 of the guide-member 34 passes beyond the latch member 42 to a position substantially in ialinement with the intermediate partition member 40, While the other tooth member 36 merely projects beyond the corresponding smaller partition member 40a. Thus, movement of the guide-member 34 past the locking device 7 is permitted, whereupon the push-button 31 may be released, and from that time, free forward or backward movement of the control dru-m and the operating handle through the various positions that correspond to regenerative operation, for example, is permitted, no actual restriction being placed upon they actuation of the operating handle until movement thereof beyond the central of position to the other set of positions is attempted.

Under sulch circumstances, the tooth 36 of the guide-member 34 engages the vertical face 49 of the latch 41 and thus the operating handle is prevented from further actuation in the one direction. The other latch member 42 interposes no actual obstruction to lthe movement of the operating handle to the olf position, since the tooth 35 of the guide-member 34 merely slides over the downwardly-pressed inclined surface 48 of the latch member.

Consequently, to effect the desired movement of the operating handle to the other set of operative posi-tions,the push-button 31 must again be thrust inwardly in the manner previously described, to cause the tooth 36 to assume a position beyond the latch member 41, with the groove 37 located opposite the other latch member, whereupon the desired movement of the controller handle is freely permitted, and as soon as the guide-member 34 passes the locking device 7, the push-button 31 may be released and the normal free forward or backward movement of the controller handle is permitted.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangements of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be elfected without de-` parting from the spirit and scope of my invention.` I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims. i

` I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a control drum adapted to assume two sets of positions separated `by an off position, of a handle member for effecting free forward or backward movement through either set of positions, a guide-member carried by and eX- tending beyond the handle member, a latch member normally engaging said guide-member in said of position, and means for temporarily yactuating said guide-member out of engagement with said latch member.

2. The combination with a control drum adapted to assume two sets of positions separated by an off position, of a handle member for effecting free forward or backward movement through either set of positions, a projecting guide-member movably carried by said handle member, latch members for separately rigidly engaging opposite sides of said guide-member in said off position, and means located in the handle member for actuating said guide-member out of engagement with either of said latch members.

3. The combination with a control drum adapted to assume two sets of positions separated by an off osition, of a handle member for effecting ee forward or backward movement through either set of positions, a projecting guide-member movably carried by said handle member, a stationary locking device embodying latch members biased to separately rigidly engage opposite sides of said guide-member in said olf position, and means resiliently mounted in the handle member for actuating said guidemember out of engagement with either of said latch members.

4. The combination with a control member adapted to assume two sets of positions separated by an olf position, of an operating handle embodying armovable lever member and a movable guide-member, a notching member for normally engaging said lever member to prevent movement of the handle, and other means coperating with said guide-member for normally preventing movement of the control `member from one set of positions to the other.

5. The combination with a control member adapted to assume two sets of positions separated by an off position, of a rotatively movable operating handle embodying a longitudinally movable lever member and a longitudinally movable guide-member, a

notching member normally resiliently engaged by said lever member, and other means cooperating with said guide-member for normally preventing movement of the control member through said oil" position in either direction. .l

6. The combination With a control member ladapted to assume tvvo sets of positions se arated b an off oeition of a ,rota- P y p v tively movable operatinghandle embodying a longitudinally movable lever member and a longitudinally movable guide-member, a notohing member normally resiliently engaged by said lever member, means for .releasing the engagement of said lever member to permit free forward or backward move- CHARLES C. WHITTAKER.

Copies, of this patent ,maybe obtained kfor ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, ID. C. 

